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Setting Records at Talladega Superspeedway

A record-setting weekend at Talladega Superspeedway saw Jeff Gordon pass a
racing legend on the all-time victory list, and Bobby Labonte return to Victory
Lane for the first time in two years.

The Aaron's Dream Weekend began Friday with 19-year-old, part-time NASCAR
Busch Series driver Brad Coleman winning the pole position for the Aaron's 312
less than a week after his grandfather passed away.

"To get this pole, I have to dedicate it to him," Coleman said. "I definitely
had a guardian angel out there with me, and he was helping push that car from
behind."

On Saturday, Jeff Gordon won the Bud Pole for the Aaron's 499 NASCAR NEXTEL
Cup race, the first time in his career that he had captured the pole position at
Talladega Superspeedway. Gordon's fast-lap speed of 192.069 mph actually was
matched by David Gilliland, but Gordon was awarded the Bud Pole based on his
first-place standing in the points.

"It's just amazing that on a 2.66-mile track, with the wind and everything
else that comes into play, that a Ford and Chevy could run that close,"
Gilliland said. "It's pretty wild."

Wild was a good word to describe that day's Busch Series race. There were 36
lead changes in the race among a total of 20 different drivers. Both marks were
records for a Busch Series event.

"I think I passed three times the amount of cars that started the race," said
Tony Stewart, who finished second in the race to Labonte.

It appeared Stewart was headed for his first victory in any series at
Talladega Superspeedway, but he was passed on the outside by Labonte - his
former NASCAR NEXTEL Cup teammate at Joe Gibbs Racing - as the cars came off
Turn 4 on the final lap.

The victory was Labonte's first since winning a NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series
race at Martinsville Speedway in April 2005, and his first Busch Series victory
since 1998.

"Coming down through the tri-oval, I thought, 'Well, I could push Tony to the
win or I could try it myself,' " Labonte said. "I went to the right side, and it
just slowed him down. I was like, 'Dude, that was a good move.' "

Afterward, Stewart gave Labonte a big hug in Victory Lane.

"That's probably the happiest I've ever been to run second and lose a race in
my life," Stewart said.

Finally, on Sunday, Jeff Gordon battled back from 14th place with only 10
laps to go to win the Aaron's 499.

"Realistically, I didn't think we were going to (win)," Gordon said. "I would
have been happy just to finish in the top-10. I didn't feel like I was going to
be anywhere close to the front. But I knew we had a strong car."

The victory was the 77th in Gordon's NASCAR NEXTEL Cup career, moving him
past the late Dale Earnhardt and into sole possession of sixth place on the
all-time victory list.

"It's hard for me to really put into perspective 77 wins and this whole day
and the career that I've had," Gordon said. "I'm just thrilled to death to drive
for (car owner Rick Hendrick). I want to appreciate it and enjoy it, and I also
want to keep it going."

The racing excitement at Talladega Superspeedway will resume Oct. 5-7 with
the running of three races: the UAW-Ford 500 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup race, the
Mountain Dew 250 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Race and the ARCA RE/MAX Series
250. For ticket information call 1-877-Go2DEGA.